There are two ways into the Italian AI Music Awards. The Open Call is open to every eligible artist. By Invitation works the other way round: you can't apply, we reach out to you. Because nobody can apply to this section, we think the criteria behind it should be public. Here they are.
Why an invitation-only section
The Italian AI music scene already has artists who have spent months, sometimes years, building a body of work. They release tracks, develop a sound and grow an audience. By Invitation exists to recognise that work and give it space. Every invited artist gets a dedicated page on this site and an in-depth interview about their music and the way they work with AI.
What we look for
We weigh five criteria together. No single one decides an invitation. 1. A recognisable artistic identity. We look at projects, not one-off generations: a consistent sound, a point of view, an aesthetic that holds together across releases. 2. Craft. Songwriting, lyrics, vocals, arrangement, production and mix. We listen to the catalogue as a whole, not just the most-played track. 3. A clear human creative contribution. AI is a tool, and we look for artists who direct it. Writing, choosing, editing, arranging, producing: the human decisions behind a track matter to us. 4. Continuity. Regular releases, presence on streaming platforms, live performances, involvement in the community. We value consistent activity over big numbers. 5. A picture of the whole scene. When we put the 32 together, we aim for range: genres, languages, cities and regions, and different ways of working with AI. The section should reflect the Italian AI music scene as it really is.
What doesn't count
• Which AI tool you use. Suno, Udio or anything else: every tool is welcome. • Money. There is no fee, for the invitation or for the Open Call. • Numbers alone. A small audience doesn't rule you out, and a big one doesn't guarantee a place.
Same rules as everyone else
Invited artists follow exactly the same rules as the Open Call: • aged 18 or over and based in Italy • one track, with vocals, in any language and genre • created or released between 1 January 2026 and 31 January 2027 • maximum length 5:30 • AI use declared: which tools, and which parts of the track the artist created. The rights to the music stay with the artist.
An invitation is not a head start
All 32 invited artists go through to the online final. There, the Winner is decided by the jury (85%) and the public vote (15%), and a separate Jury Prize is decided by the jury alone. An invitation gets you on stage. The music does the rest.
Not invited? The door is still open
If we haven't contacted you, the Open Call is open until 31 January 2027, and entry is free. Selection is rolling, so it pays to submit early. We will select 48 tracks for the Artists page, and the jury will pick 8 of them for the final. The Open Call has its own Winner and its own Jury Prize.
